Governance
MyGov launches innovation challenge for creating Indian Language Learning App

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the innovation challenge and about MyGov platform) + Mains ( GS II good governance)
What's the NEWS

• MyGov, the citizen engagement platform of the Government of India, in partnership with Department of Higher Education has launched an Innovation Challenge for creating an Indian Language Learning App.
• This Innovation Challenge has been launched to take forward the vision of celebrating India's cultural diversity through greater interaction among its constituent parts.

Know! about the innovation challenge

• MyGov has launched the Innovation Challenge to create an app that will enable individuals to learn simple sentences of any Indian language and acquire working knowledge of a language.
• The objective of this challenge is to create an app that will promote regional language literacy, thereby creating greater cultural understanding within the country.
• The key parameters that will be looked into will include ease of use, simplicity, Graphical User Interface, gamification features, UI, UX and superior content, that makes it easy and fun to learn an Indian language.
• The Innovation Challenge is open to Indian individuals, startups and companies.
• MyGov envisions the app to be multi-modular, with the capacity to teach through the written word, voice and video/visuals.
• The Innovation Challenge closes on 27 May 2021. Upon evaluation of submission of prototypes, the top 10 teams will be invited to make presentations and top 3 will be selected by a jury.
• The top 3 will receive funding of INR 20, 10 and 5 lakhs to make the apps better. The solutions would be evaluated based on broad parameters such as Innovation, Scalability, Usability, Interoperability, Ease of deployment/roll-out and Campaign.

Science & Technology
Scientists develop magnetometer for low cost, reliable & real-time measurements of magnetic fields

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the DRS + functioning of low cost magnetometer) + Mains ( GS III awareness in the field of S&T )
What's the NEWS

• Researchers have demonstrated a low-cost digital system to efficiently measure unknown magnetic fields.

Know! about DRS

• Digital signals are the backbone of communication systems processed by hardware systems that transmit and receive the signals with the help of intermediate systems called ‘digital receiver systems' or DRS.
• When magnetic matter creates signals, analysing them with DRS lets scientists study the magnetic fields.
• Analysing the properties of the signals, for example, how they vary with time, scientists can measure the fields and study their small fluctuations.

Know! this new system of measuring Magnetic field

• In a new study, scientists from Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bengaluru, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, have devised a more efficient, faster, and low-cost digital receiver system that can make precise measurements of magnetic fields.
• The study was supported by the Department of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) Government of India.
• The hardware of digital receiver systems are built with standard silicon-based memory devices.
• Computer codes are implemented that make these devices perform mathematical operations on the signal they receive, enabling DRS systems to measure fundamental properties of matter like ‘Spin'.
• The spin of electrons determines the magnetism of most of the objects around us.
• "The electrons' spin is not constant at room temperatures,they fluctuate
• These spin fluctuations cause what scientists call ‘spin-noise'. By measuring the tiny fluctuations in the magnetic field, the researchers can infer the spin-noise accurately.

Science & Technology
Cov-Tech Ventilation System
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Cov-Tech Ventilation System + National Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB) + DST- NIDHI
What's the NEWS

• A compact, economical ventilation system for PPE kits developed by a Pune based startup can prevent excessive sweating while wearing such kits.

Know! about Cov-Tech Ventilation System

• The ventilation system when attached with the conventional PPE kits with one simple modification, keeps the health workers' well ventilated preventing not only bodily discomforts but also possible fungal diseases in the body.
• Startup called Watt Technovations, developed the technology called ‘Cov-Tech Ventilation System', at RIIDL (Research Innovation Incubation Design Laboratory) supported by the National Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB), Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, in Somaiya Vidyavihar University.
• The student of K J Somaiya College of Engineering and the founder of Watt Technovations, received the NIDHI's Promoting and Accelerating Young and ASpiring technology entrepreneurs (PRAYAS) grant of Rs 10,00,000 from Department of Science and Technology, Government of India for prototype development and product innovation.
• The startup also received Rs 5,00,000 as support from new venture investment programme jointly conducted by RIIDL & K J Somaiya Institute of Management.
• The ‘Cov-Tech Ventilation System' can be fastened over the waist just like a simple belt over which the traditional PPE is worn and can provide comfort to the doctors and medical practitioners working in the hospitals to treat Covid infected patients.
• The design of the ventilation system ensures a complete air seal from the PPE kit. It provides a breeze of fresh air to the user in a gap of just 100 seconds.

The National Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB)

• It is established by Government of India in 1982 is an institutional mechanism, with a broad objective of promoting gainful self-employment amongst the Science and Technology (S&T) manpower in the country and to setup knowledge based and innovation driven enterprises.
• NSTEDB functions under the aegis of Department of Science & Technology. It has representation from socio-economic and scientific Departments / Ministries, premier entrepreneurship development institutions and all India Financial Institutions.

The major objectives of NSTEDB are :

• To promote knowledge based and innovation driven enterprises.
• To facilitate generation of entrepreneurship and self-employment opportunities for S & T persons.
• To facilitate the information dissemination.
• To network with various Central & State Government agencies for S&T based entrepreneurship development.
• To act as a policy advisory body to the Government agencies for S&T based entrepreneurship development.
• To generate employment through technical skill development using S & T infrastructure.

Know! the schemes to promote R&D by DST

• There is support available for both R&D of ideas and commercialization of products, especially that which is provided by Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Parks (STEPs) and Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) promoted by National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB) of Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.
• However, the primary aim of the STEPs and TBIs is to tap innovations and technologies for venture creation by utilizing expertise and infrastructure already available with the host institution, be it an academic, technical, management institution, or a technology and research park.
• An early stage prototype/ proof of concept (PoC) fund is needed to be effectively able to convert these technology ideas and innovations into products, and eventually to spur entrepreneurship.

Know! about DST- NIDHI

• DST-NIDHI's PRomoting and Accelerating Young and ASpiring technology entrepreneurs (PRAYAS)is specifically to support young innovators turn their ideas into PoC.
• This support shall allow the innovators to try their ideas without fear of failure, hence allowing them to reach a stage where they have a ready product and are willing to approach incubators for commercialization.
• NIDHI-PRAYAS a pre-incubation initiative that would be implemented through a Program Management Unit (PMU) and the incubators selected for implementing the PRAYAS progam will be the PRAYAS Centres (PCs).
• The program will also help incubators source the potential incubatee companies.

Know! about NIDHI

• National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) is an umbrella program conceived and developed by the DST-NSTEDB, for nurturing ideas and innovations (knowledge-based and technology-driven) into successful startups.
• The program would work in line with the national priorities and goals and its focus would be to build an innovation driven entrepreneurial ecosystem with an objective of socioeconomic development through wealth and job creation.
• NIDHI aims to nurture start-ups through scouting, supporting and scaling of innovations.
• The key stakeholders of NIDHI includes various departments and ministries of the central government, state governments, academic and R & D institutions, incubators, mentors, financial institutions, angel investors, venture capitalists and private sectors.
• NIDHI is developed keeping in line the new national aspirations and on the basis of DST's experience of three decades, in promoting innovative start-ups.

The key components of NIDHI are:

1. NIDHI-GCC - Grand Challenges and Competitions for scouting innovations
2. NIDHI-PRomotion and Acceleration of Young and Aspiring technology entrepreneurs (NIDHI-PRAYAS) - Support from Idea to Prototype
3. NIDHI - Entrepreneur in Residence (NIDHI-EIR) - Support system to reduce risk
4. NIDHI-Technology Business Incubator (TBI) - Converting Innovations to start-ups
5. NIDHI-Accelerator - Fast tracking a start-up through focused intervention
6. NIDHI-Seed Support System (NIDHI-SSS)- Providing early stage investment
7. NIDHI Centres of Excellence (NIDHI-CoE) - A World class facility to help startups go global

Social Justice & Empowerment
ELDERLINE (14567)
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about ELDERLINE project.)
What's the NEWS

• In order to address the problems of elders in the context of the ongoing COVID pandemic, the Ministry of Social Justice has started state wise call centres in major states under the ELDERLINE project.
• The facility is already made operational in 5 major States of UP, MP, Rajasthan, TN and Karnataka.In Telangana, this facility has been working for more than a year.

• These call centres can be reached by toll free number 14567. All elders may be advised to use this facility.
• The ELDERLINE is a facility operationalised with the assistance of Tata Trusts and NSE foundation.

Prelims Factoids
SAMVEDNA

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about SAMVEDNA)
What's the NEWS

• With an objective of providing psychological first-aid and emotional support to children affected during COVID-19 Pandemic, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)is providing Tele-Counselling to children through SAMVEDNA(Sensitizing Action on Mental Health Vulnerability through Emotional Development and Necessary Acceptance) - a Toll-Free Helpline launched to provide psycho-social mental support for Children affected during COVID 19 Pandemic.
• Tele-counselling is being provided through a network of qualified Experts/Counselors/Psychologists

SAMVEDNA tele counselling service

• SAMVEDNA tele counselling service is for psychological support to children to address their stress, anxiety, fear and other issues during the Pandemic.
• This service is available on a toll-free No: 1800-121-2830 from Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• This service is exclusively for children who are willing to talk and are in need of counseling. When a child/ caretaker/Parent dials SAMVEDNA1800-121-2830,they get to speak to a professional counselor in a safe environment.

Tele counselling is provided to the children under three categories:

1. Children who are in Quarantine/isolation/COVID Care centers.
2. Children who have COVID positive parents or family members and near ones.
3. Children who have lost their parents due to Covid-19 Pandemic.

• This Toll-free Tele-Counselling cater to the children from all over India in various regional languages like Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Oriya, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali etc.
• This service was launched in September,2020 and continuing to support children in the difficult times of COVID-19 pandemic.
• NCPCR is a statutory body and works under the aegis of Ministry of Women and Child Development, Govt. of India.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)

• It is an Indian statutory body established by an Act of Parliament, the Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005.
• The Commission works under the aegis of Ministry of Women and Child Development, GoI. The Commission began operational on 5 March 2007.
• The Commission is mandated under section 13 of CPCR Act, 2005 "to ensure that all Laws, Policies, Programmes, and Administrative Mechanisms are in consonance with the Child Rights perspective as enshrined in the Constitution of India and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• As defined by the commission, child includes person up to the age of 18 years.

The commission consist of the following members namely:-

• A chairperson who, is a person of eminence and has done a outstanding work for promoting the welfare of children; and
• Six members, out of which at least two are woman, from the following fields, is appointed by the Central Government from amongst person of eminence, ability, integrity, standing

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